What a co-op is and how it functions:
Co-op housing is not public housing. Nor is it commercial housing based on a landlord/tenant
relationship. Co-ops are mixed-income communities that are home to people of all ages and
backgrounds. This diversity is one of the co-op movement’s greatest strengths.
Once accepted into a co-op, you become a member of a self-governing community. Members
elect a Board of Directors from among themselves to govern the co-op’s operations through
committees. At Helen’s Court, committees include Finance, Membership, Maintenance,
Gardening, Garage, Aging in Place, Health and Safety, and Children’s.
Members of Helen’s Court must follow our Rules and Occupancy Agreement. Although Helen’s
Court is guided by the Co-operative Association Act, our community was founded in activism
and maintains a proud tradition of innovative self-governance.
What makes a good co-op member:
Because co-ops are self-governed and manage their own buildings, co-op members have a duty
to participate. They are expected to attend general meetings, join committees, and take on
tasks. They should also agree with our core values.
Applying to be a member:
Our waitlist is open twice a year, during the months of April and October. Kindly return your application to membership@helenscourt.org. Do not include any attachments; we will only evaluate the answers on the application.
Our waiting list doesn’t operate on first-come-first-served basis. When a unit becomes
available, the Membership Committee considers all current applications for that unit size and
selects households for interviews based on the quality of the applications and the needs of the
community. To increase your chance of being considered, please submit a detailed application,
and keep your application current by renewing each year and sending any relevant updates to
membership@helenscourt.org. It’s impossible to say when a unit will become available as our
turnover is unpredictable.
Maximum housing charges break down as follows. We have 9 one-bedrooms, $856- $954, 22 two-bedrooms, $1,242 – $1,445, and 13 three-bedrooms, $1,246 – $1,671. The share purchase is double the monthly housing charge.